Evolution

Evolution

The aptly titled Evolution marked a turning point for The Hollies. Like a lot of British bands in 1967, they began to move beyond conventional pop/rock and took a rather more psychedelic turn. Not that this is a tripped-out journey full of brain-frying fuzz guitars and 15-minute epics; no song exceeds the three-minute mark, and The Hollies still hold tight to the infectious pop wizardry that had made them stars in the mid-'60s. Evolution is an entirely accessible entrée into psychedelia; the baroque arrangement on "Ye Olde Toffee Shop," the effects on the lead vocal of "Lullaby to Tim," and the mysterious gypsy-folk feel of "Stop Right There" typify the extent of the experimentation here. At the same time, there's no shortage of straight-up pop tunes, like "Carrie Anne," a single that became one of the band's biggest hits (though it wasn't included on the original U.K. version of the album). Whether they're crafting pop perfection or trying psychedelia on for size, The Hollies keep their world-beating harmonies close at hand, ensuring Evolution's easiness on the ears.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada